The Texas Watchdog crew caught this bit of news earlier:
Cash bribes and trips to Las Vegas helped pave the way for a $47-million-a-year contract between the city [of Detroit] and a Texas company that recycles sludge, a former executive said Monday as he pleaded guilty in federal court.
The influence-peddling reached a climax in fall 2007 when a City Council member accepted payments to vote in favor of the deal with Houston-based Synagro Technologies, the government alleges. The contract was approved, 5-4.
Interestingly enough, that “Texas company” happens to be a Houston company that also does business with the City of Houston, as Jennifer Peebles points out:
Synagro Technologies has done business with the city of Houston for some time. The city last February re-inked its contract with the firm, giving city officials a free hand to spend up to $26 million with the firm without needing to return to the City Council for specific approval.
Neat! We can’t help but wonder if there are any similar (Houston Way) connections here.
And the Texas Watchdog folks seem interested as well, so if you know of any possible shenanigans involving area government officials and Synagro, do shoot Texas Watchdog an email.
